BRENDAN - Recently my dad and my brother recently tested the Dodge
Stratus with the four-banger engine but this R/T is the one they should
have had. It's a little more expensive but what a difference! Dodge has
been at the forefront of cutting edge design for the past 10 years or
so, from the aggressive Viper to the brutish Ram trucks. So when the
opportunity to review one of their new hot models arrives, we like to
take advantage of it. Its Intrepid S/T has been in production since
1993, and this week we review the 2002 model. While it's not so
different from the 2001 version, it's different enough that it can be
called new. The Intrepid S/T strives to be a sport sedan that fits five
to six passengers, and although it's ES and SE models succeed on most
accounts, it's the R/T that really packs a wallop. A 3.5 liter
244-horsepower V6 engine is featured in the R/T model, compared with the
SE at 200 ponies and the ES with 234. That extra bit really makes a
difference, basically making the R/T Dodge's modern day muscle car
interpretation. Further proof of Intrepid's muscle car roots is that
when Dodge decided to re-enter NASCAR Winston Cup racing they chose the
Intrepid R/T to represent the brand. That says a lot since the company
hasn't been involved in the Winston Cup for many decades.

MIKELE - My Dad wouldn't be caught in a Mopar, being he is a
tried and true GM man, but if we could just get him to try one of these
babies on the road, he might possibly change his tune. The R/T's engine
is backed up by a dual-mode AutoStick transaxle that lets the driver
choose between the control of a manual gearbox and the convenience of an
automatic. It also has a performance-tuned exhaust system that gives it
a muscle car sound. The interior has all the standard stuff, like
cupholders, air conditioning, a moon roof, and a 12-volt power outlet
with a tethered cap that can't get lost, but it also has tilt steering
and power windows with one-touch operation of the drivers side,
something I think all cars should have. I hate having to keep my finger
on the control switch when I'm crossing a toll bridge and fumbling for
bills with the other. It also has a CD player, eight-way power front
bucket seats with manual lumbar support, and a 60/40 rear split rear
seat with a center armrest and two cupholders. That's a bundle of
goodies that make the interior of the Intrepid R/T a good deal.

BRENDAN - The Intrepid is loaded with safety items too, Mikele. It
doesn't skimp, and it has brake-shift and park-ignition interlocks,
rear child protection door locks, three-point shoulder belts for all
passengers, remote keyless entry, and both driver's and front passenger
air bags really are the latest in safety features.

MIKELE - We've neglected reviewing the exterior of the R/T, Bren.
The new year-model has two new colors in the lineup, Onyx Green, and
Light Pearl Metallic. I'd prefer Inferno Red though, because red always
makes you look like your going faster and gets you noticed. Its 17-inch,
five-spoke chromed aluminum wheels make it look hot and it has a
full-size spare tire, so you can drive over 50 if you have to use it.
Unfortunately it's steel and not a match for the other four wheels that
are on the ground so you can't use it as part of a full five-tire
rotation. The Intrepid cab-forward design is aging now, but it's still a
thing of beauty, and it has a sleekness usually found in wild prototypes
that never make it to production.

BRENDAN - I'll agree with you that it is a sleek-looking car Mikele,
and it's interior is nice. The Intrepid also has a very large trunk, so
it would be ideal for picking up both of your grandmothers at the
airport. It's always amazed me that they always bring back lots more
stuff than they start with when they travel.

MIKELE - You know darn well that it's usually presents for us, so
stop complaining.